 | Character of the Week - Tarzan |
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| DisneyDan
Saturday, June 25, 2011 4:18:12 AM |
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When his parents were shipwrecked off a remote part of the African coast, they forged a home from the ruins; but Tarzan’s Swiss Family style life was not meant to be for long. With his parents killed by Sabor, the blood thirsty leopard, baby Tarzan cries out. His cries are heard by the kindly gorilla, Kala. Kala comes to the rescue of Tarzan, and manages to outwit Sabor – for the time being.
Naming him Tarzan and taking him as her own, Kala cares for the child and raises him as a gorilla, despite the protests of some of the other gorillas, including the group leader, Kerchak.
Growing up in the jungle, Tarzan makes some very good friends, including the gorilla Terk, and the ever paranoid elephant, Tantor.
As an adult he continues to try and win the approval of the other gorillas, and finally wins the reluctant approval of Kerchak when after a fierce battle, Tarzan defeats the evil Sabor.
Tarzan’s life changes however when explorers from a distant land arrive in the jungle. It becomes immediately apparent that Tarzan is one of them, and Tarzan begins to interact with them. Tarzan becomes particularly fond of a girl named Jane Porter.
She teaches Tarzan about his own people, but in the process the pair begin to fall in love.
One of the expedition team, Clayton, has other ideas for Tarzan and his gorilla friends though, and tries to capture them. In a fierce chase through the forest to capture the gorillas, the hunter Clayton is killed, but not before shooting Kerchak.
Dying, but with his family safe, Kerchak finally accepts Tarzan as his adopted son, and names him as the new group leader.
Jane and her father prepare to leave, but Tarzan decides to stay behind where he truly belongs. As they leave, Jane is encouraged to stay with the man she loves by her father, who then also decides to stay in the jungle.
At the Parks and Resorts
The Tarzan Encounter show has finally swung back into the Chaparral Theater in Disneyland Paris after a two year hiatus. With stunning acrobatics, and Terk and Jane at his side, this musical is one not to be missed.
There is also a Tarzan mini-statue outside the Art of Animation Building in the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
Over in California and Hong Kong, you can explore the treehouse home of Tarzan’s parents.
Sadly there isn’t much else that features Tarzan these days.
Meeting Tarzan
Tarzan cannot normally be met in the Parks, except during Halloween in the Magic Kingdom where he meets on select nights at the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties.
More Information
For more detailed information about Tarzan, lots more photos, and where you can find him, visit his official page here on this site.
And Finally
Despite being brought up by gorillas, Tarzan probably has more humanity in him than most of the human race. Protective and caring, a capable warrior and determined leader, Tarzan is truly the King of the Jungle.
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Dan. |